Happy National Athletic Training Month

with patient care. Were you an athlete in high school or college? You might have had to see your ATC for an injury during practice or at a game. Some other places ATCs work that might surprise you: •Hospitals

requirements and the type of patients they treat. Athletic Trainers must graduate from a Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Trainer Education (CAATE) accredited baccalaureate or master’s program. In addition to their studies in the classroom, an ATC performs clinical rotations to put their skills to the test. These could be in high schools, colleges, clinics or hospitals. Once they complete the undergraduate or master’s program, every athletic training student is eligible to sit for the national Board of Certification Exam. After they are certified and can officially put the letters ATC after their name, ATCs apply to become licensed to practice in their state of employment. Where do ATCs work?

This month is dedicated to spreading awareness about Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs), the environments in which they work and the importance of their role in rehabilitation. What are ATCs? According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, ATCs are highly qualified, multi- skilled healthcare professionals who collaborate with physicians, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a variety of settings. ATCs can provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation to injuries and various medical conditions. Distinguishing an ATC’s Role ATCs are not personal trainers. While they can be confused with trainers, there is a big difference from the amount of education necessary to be a certified athletic trainer, their skills, job Meet the ATCs at LSTC Cierra Washington, ATC

•Working with professional and semi-professional athletes, including NASCAR and rodeo events •Treating performing artists, including Cirque du Soleil performers •Law enforcement and government agencies, such as NASA and the Pentagon •Factory, occupational and industrial settings for on-the-job ergonomics, bodymechanics and lifting safety as well as injury prevention

It might surprise you that ATCs don’t just work on the sidelines o f s p o r t i n g events. Here at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center, an outpatient orthopedic clinic, our ATCs work alongside our therapists to help

Brittany Browder, ATC, MA, CEIS Before coming to LSTC, I worked in the industrial setting. I was a contract athletic trainer for a large pharmaceutical company in Indianapolis, IN. I performed injury evaluations, prevention, education,

Tricia Walker, ATC, MA When I was in high school, I broke my leg playing softball. The injury happened even before we started playing games. I missed an entire competitive season. Going through the process of surgery and physical

I grew up playing sports and knew I wanted to pursue a career that combined medicine and athletics. In high school, I played basketball, softball and was a cheerleader, so I mademy fair share of trips tomy

athletic trainer. He gave me the opportunity to shadow himso I could get a better understanding of what ATCS do. That experience sealed the deal for me to make this my career.

therapy made me see the value in helping others get back to what they love. Now, as an athletic trainer, I can relate to the athletes and patients who have suffered an injury that limited their abilities. Helping them return to the level of competition they’re striving for is a driving force for me to keep doing what I’m doing.

and ergonomic evaluations to prevent office, lab andmanufacturing injuries. I also was in charge of programmanagement andworked closely with the company’s leadership to ensure employees had a good understanding of injury prevention and safe working environments.